Chu: Threat to California dire

Washington Report - In brief

February 4, 2009

California's farms and vineyards could vanish by the end of the century, and its major cities could be in jeopardy, if Americans do not act to slow the advance of global warming, Energy Secretary and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu said Tuesday. In his first interview since taking office last month, Chu offered some of the starkest comments yet on how seriously President Barack Obama's Cabinet views the threat of climate change. He warned of water shortages plaguing the West and Upper Midwest, and particularly dire consequences for his home state of California, the nation's leading agricultural producer. In a worst case, Chu said, up to 90 percent of the snowpack could disappear in the Sierras, sucking the bulk of California's water supply nearly dry. "I don't think the American public has gripped in its gut what could happen," he said. During the interview, Chu also made clear that he sees public education as a key part of the administration's strategy to fight global warming.

Clinton, top ministers meet

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Tuesday became the first foreign minister to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton since she took her post. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier followed, meeting with Clinton two hours later. Miliband said he discussed Iran, Middle East peace, Afghanistan and climate change with Clinton. Clinton said she had discussed a similar list of topics with the German minister. In addition, she said they had talked about how to work with Russia.